Do you know anything about this conspiracy of orcs and holberks?

The holberks keep our trading links to the orcs alive. So, obviously, they’re in close contact, but I think it’s a mistake to construe a conspiracy from that. Especially as neither the orcs nor the holberks have the brains for it.

Couldn’t the conspiracy be controlled by someone else entirely?

Well, yes, of course that’s possible. But let’s not forget that the orcs have brought war to the entire Svellt valley. Outside the Orclands holberks are found only here in Riva. Why should anyone go the trouble to use them for his purposes, if it’s quite obvious from events everywhere else that they aren’t needed?